Gastrointestinal‐Specific symptom anxiety in patients with gastroparesis: Relationships to symptom severity and quality of life. Issue 5 (5th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tanner, Samuel E.; Burton Murray, Helen; Brown, Tiffany A.; Malik, Zubair; Parkman, Henry P.
• Is Part Of: Neurogastroenterology & motility. Volume 35:Issue 5(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-02-05
• Subjects: brain‐gut axis -- gastrointestinal motility -- gastroparesis -- psychological distress -- somatization; Gastrointestinal system -- Motility -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Innervation -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14534
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-1925

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Gastrointestinal (GI)‐specific anxiety has been identified as a treatment target in irritable bowel syndrome. However, GI‐specific anxiety has been understudied in other GI functional/motility disorders. Among adults with gastroparesis, we aimed to: (1) initially validate a measure of GI‐specific anxiety, the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI); and (2) evaluate the relationship between GI‐specific anxiety and gastroparesis symptom severity and quality of life, compared to measures of anxiety, depression, and somatization. Methods: Consecutive adult patients ( N = 100) with gastroparesis presenting for initial consultation completed a series of self‐report measures including the VSI. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the VSI one‐factor structure and tested internal consistency and convergent validity. We then performed hierarchical linear regression analyses to explore associations between VSI and gastroparesis symptom severity and overall quality of life. Key Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the original VSI one‐factor structure overall fit well [χ 2 (90) = 220.1, p < 0.0001; SRMR = 0.08; RMSEA = 0.12; CFI = 0.96]. The VSI also had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.99) and convergent validity ( r = 0.29–0.56; all p < 0.01). Higher GI‐specific anxiety was significantly associated with greater gastroparesis symptom severity, including nausea/vomiting, fullness/satiety, and upper abdominal pain scores beyond depression, anxiety, or somatization (all p = <0.01–0.01). Additionally, higher GI‐specific anxiety was significantly associated with lower mental health‐related quality of life, beyond gastroparesis symptom severity, depression, anxiety, or somatization ( p = 0.01). Conclusions & Inferences: The VSI is an adequate measure of GI‐specific anxiety in patients with gastroparesis. Higher GI‐specific anxiety was associated with increased patient‐reported gastroparesis symptom severity and decreased quality of life, beyond depression/anxiety. Abstract : The Visceral Sensitivity Index, a measure of GI‐specific symptom anxiety previously validated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, was an adequate measure of GI‐specific symptom anxiety in patients with gastroparesis. Higher GI‐specific symptom anxiety was associated with increased patient‐reported gastroparesis symptom severity and decreased quality of life, beyond depression, anxiety, or somatization.